Commissioners` Decicions Sound In Search For County Administrator

January 21, 1987

Broward County commissioners made two sensible decisions Tuesday. Their actions are aimed at assuring that, after County Administrator Floyd Johnson steps down March 13, the transition of power is smooth and the county retains high-quality leadership for the short and long term.

Commissioners agreed to launch a nationwide search to find the most qualified person to replace Johnson permanently. Meanwhile, they named Johnson`s capable, experienced assistant county administrator, Celiene Bruce, 48, as interim administrator.

Bruce said she is not interested in applying for the job on a permanent basis, explaining that she is a behind-the-scenes person unsuited to the public limelight.

Nevertheless, she has strong qualifications, including 13 years with county government and a record of performance that was highly praised by Johnson and county commissioners. If she proves herself as interim administrator, she should consider applying for the permanent post.

She faces some tough challenges in the months ahead, including coordinating complex projects like the $521 million resource recovery plants, the $117 million criminal justice bond issue, the $262 million airport expansion and the $50 million convention center. She won the job after another top contender, Fort Lauderdale airport expansion director Richard Mooney, withdrew his name from contention.

Johnson`s departure, while unavoidably disruptive, need not be the crisis that some people seem to fear. Most government projects are showing steady progress, and Johnson has built a generally excellent team of managers who will be around to continue working with Bruce. Both he and Bruce vow to continue acting decisively, despite what some might consider a lameduck status, and both believe county staff members will continue functioning in a professional manner, even though a permanent boss won`t be named for some time.

The decision to make a nationwide search for a permanent administrator is a prudent one, even though it may take half a year or more. The job is too complicated and critical to hand over to anyone without carefully screening credentials of a number of applicants.

Whether the person in charge is an interim or a permanent administrator, county commissioners should give him or her adequate latitude and authority to do the job. They should play the role of legislative policy-makers and not meddlesome would-be administrators, and they should balance the need to offer constructive criticism and monitor performance with the need to avoid nitpicking the administrator to death.